Zuck Slams Free Basics Critics in India

In a Times of India op-ed, the Facebook founder debunked what he called false claims about the free Web service.

UPDATE (12/31): Egypt on Wednesday became the latest country to shut down Facebook's Free Basics Web program. There is no word yet on why the service was halted. In a statement to the Associated Press, Facebook said it is "disappointed" and hopes to "resolve this situation soon."

In a Monday op-ed penned for The Times of India, the Facebook founder blasted detractors of the gratis Web program aimed at connecting the next 5 billion people.

"Instead of wanting to give people access to some basic Internet services for free, critics of the program continue to spread false claims — even if that means leaving behind a billion people," Zuckerberg wrote.

Debunking what he calls false claims, Zuckerberg said his service (previously called Internet.org) creates a more open Web, partners with any telco and all developers, and "fully respects net neutrality."

"This isn't about Facebook's commercial interests — there aren't even any ads in the version of Facebook in Free Basics," he wrote this week. "If people lose access to free basic services they will simply lose access to the opportunities offered by the Internet today."

Zuckerberg's commentary comes less than a week after the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) ordered the temporary suspension of Free Basics while the agency determines whether the service violates net neutrality.

The app launched in India — the second-most populous country on the planet — in February. Available in six Indian states, the program offered residents access to more than three dozen Web services.

Users, however, must be Reliance Communications customers, and are limited to a range of portals found within the application: Wikipedia, job listing sites, select weather, sports, and news outlets, and, naturally, Facebook and Facebook Messenger.

Stephanie began as a PCMag reporter in May 2012. She moved to New York City from Frederick, Md., where she worked for four years as a multimedia reporter at the second-largest daily newspaper in Maryland. She interned at Baltimore magazine and graduated from Indiana University of Pennsylvania (in the town of Indiana, in the state of Pennsylvania) with a degree in journalism and mass communications.
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